THE first of a new breed of funerals will be approved by a council executive today.

Civil funerals which bridge the gap between a full religious service and a humanist alternative are being proposed by Wrexham Council’s Register Office.

It will be the first time in North Wales that the new genre of “celebratory” funerals go on offer.

The services will no longer be tied to churches and crematoria but could be held anywhere including village halls, registrar Helen Hedley said.

She said: “There’s a group of people who don’t necessarily feel comfortable with a religious funeral or the humanist version.

“What people want is a celebration of someone’s life and if the deceased had a favourite hymn, even if they aren’t particularly religious, they may want to include it.

“What we will offer is to go to their homes and discuss what kind of person they were and what the family want in detail.”

Council leader Aled Roberts said: “I believe we’re the only one in North Wales.”

Stephen Caldecott, of Caldecott and Sons funeral directors in Wrexham, said: “I’ve never heard of holding a funeral outside a church, crematorium or our chapel of rest and don’t know how it would be done.

“Having said that I don’t see why they shouldn’t have it in a village hall or community centre if that’s what they want.

“People do want a Lord’s Prayer in the service even if they’re not so keen on the full traditional religious eulogy and church service if they weren’t big church goers.”

But new archdeacon for Wrexham, Rev Shirley Griffiths, questions whether the new service will offer the same level of support as the church can.

She said: “Everyone is an individual and not everyone has religious belief and that view point has to be respected.

“But I wonder what sort of support there is from other quarters who may be offering a service?

“We visit the family before the funeral and send anniversary cards out 12 months on. We also invite bereaved families to All Souls services where they light a candle for their loved one. There are pastoral visits and a church family to offer even more support. It’s proven very well received.”